
Why Use Terminal-Digit Filing?
What is terminal digit storage?
How many terminal digits are needed for a file?
How many sections can a terminal file have?
Is terminal digit filing cumbersome?
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What is the purpose of terminal digit filing system?
Terminal digit filing is a filing system that works by using the last two numbers on files to organize them. It then follows the numbers in reverse order to pinpoint the needed file. As a result, this numerical system of filing is efficient for many large-scale companies.
What are some benefits of terminal digit filing?
Terminal digit filing has the advantage of distributing files evenly throughout the system, making it easier to allocate space for expansion. Use of terminal digital filing for the social security number 123-45-6789 would sort it first under 9, then under 12345678.
What is an example of a terminal digit order?
The terminal digit filing system is also referred to as the reverse numeric filing system. The terminal system is opposite of the straight numeric. For example, medical record number 01-02-89, 89 is now considered the primary section, 02 is still the secondary section, and 01 is the tertiary section.
What is the meaning of terminal digit?
Terminal digits mean the first digit and the last digit.
How do I file a terminal digit?
1:163:31Terminal Digit Filing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe will be looking next at how terminal digit medical record numbers are filed you will see that weMoreWe will be looking next at how terminal digit medical record numbers are filed you will see that we start at the right with our primary digit. We begin with the primary digit. And work to the left.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of numerical filing?
Advantages of Numerical filingIt is easy to understand.Disarrangement of files is minimized.The location of numbered files is very easy.The file number can be used as a reference in future correspondence.The expansion of files is very easy since the system is flexible.The preparation of address list is very easy.More items...
What are the 5 basic filing systems?
There are 5 methods of filing:Filing by Subject/Category.Filing in Alphabetical order.Filing by Numbers/Numerical order.Filing by Places/Geographical order.Filing by Dates/Chronological order.
What are the three basic filing methods?
Filing and classification systems fall into three main types: alphabetical, numeric and alphanumeric.
What are the three types of numeric filing?
Three types of numeric filing systems are commonly used for filing medical records- straight numeric, terminal digit, and middle digit.
How do you file documents chronologically?
In Chronological filing, files and folders of documents are arranged in order of their date, day, and time. This sequence can be according to their date of receipt, or date and time of their creation with the most recent date in front of or on top of the previous items.
What are the disadvantages of alphanumeric filing?
Rules and Organization One disadvantage of an alphanumeric filing system is that it runs by rules that are more arbitrary and less intuitive than filing everything alphabetically. However, it is more organized.
What is alphanumeric filing?
n. a method for classifying materials for storage and access through use of letters and digits that represents a concept (View Citations)
What are the disadvantages of alphanumeric filing?
Rules and Organization One disadvantage of an alphanumeric filing system is that it runs by rules that are more arbitrary and less intuitive than filing everything alphabetically. However, it is more organized.
Why is it important to use a good system when filing charts?
Why is it important to use a good system when filing charts? The filing system needs to be efficient so that the files are easy to find. What is the difference between a co-payment and co-insurance? - co payment is a fee collected at the time of service.
Which of the following is a major disadvantage of straight numeric filing quizlet?
Straight numeric filing has the following disadvantages: -Office staff must consider all digits of the number when filing, resulting in transposition of digits and misfiled records.
What is a numerical filing system?
Numeric filing systems arrange records by number. It is an indirect access system because an index to the files must be used to retrieve information. 2. Alphanumeric. Alphanumeric systems use a combination of subject and numbers.
Pros and Cons of Terminal Digit Numbering and Filling System - GraduateWay
Middle Digit Numbering and Filing System Terminal Digit Numbering and Filling System Under this system, numbers are grouped into units containing two digits each.The medical staff used use a six-digit number which they divide it with a hyphen into three parts.
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit - AHIMA
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit © 2009 AHIMA 3 Foreword Filing health records is a fundamental component of any health information department. Even though
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit - AHIMA
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit © 2009 AHIMA 3 Foreword Filing health records is a fundamental component of any health information department. Even though
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit - AHIMA
Terminal Digit Filing Toolkit © 2009 AHIMA 3 Foreword Filing health records is a fundamental component of any health information department. Even though
How can I sort in terminal digit order, a widely used filing
How can I sort numbers in terminal digit order, a widely used filing system in Medical Records Department? 2145 02 2146 02 2147 02 9998 03 9999 03 0000 04...
What is terminal digit filing?
Terminal digit filing, or end digit filing, makes more sense for managing large quantities of records. Terminal digit and end digit filing allows files to expand at a controlled rate, eliminating the need to shift files after purging older records.
How to contact a terminal digit?
If you are considering the advantages of converting to a terminal digit or end digit filing system, call us today at 1-800-803-1083 or contact us, and one of our records management experts will call you to discuss your filing requirements.
What is straight numeric filing system?
Straight numeric filing systems identify each patient with a unique number, eliminating any confusion about which file or patient chart you are looking with an alphabetical filing system. The main problem with a straight numeric filing system is distribution the workload evenly and equally among your staff and reorganizing and shifting files after purging records. Also, with any numeric filing system you need a cross reference database to connect the patient or company name to the file number.
What is an alphabetical filing situation?
Below are some alphabetical filing situations that can cause confusion and hamper the productivity of your records management: When a file name includes two surnames – the mother’s and father’s last names – rather than a first, middle, and last name. If several files have the same name (such as Tom Jones or Mary Smith)
Why is alphabetical filing problematic?
Some of the problems with alphabetical filing systems are: Difficulty in managing where file growth will occur in your filing system resulting in periodic reorganizing and shifting of files to make room for file growth.
What is the FMP on a patient's social security number?
On the record jacket, the family member prefix (FMP) is also added to the patient’s social security number showing a beneficiary’s relationship to the sponsor.
How many groups are there in a 9 digit social security number?
The nine-digit social security number is divided into three groups. The TDFS system changes the direction in which social security numbers are read.
Can you misfile a terminal digit?
In a properly maintained terminal digit, color-coded and block filing system, it is almost impossible to misfile a record.
Why is terminal digit system called terminal digit system?
It is called the Terminal Digit system because you first have to separate your available filing space into a number of regular ‘terminals’.
Where is 2012/000189-00 filed?
File folder 2012/000189-00 is filed in terminal number 00 and 2012/000190-01 is filled in terminal number 01. In a nutshell, what we are doing is distributing files evenly across all available filing space. We are not starting at terminal 00 and filling it up and then moving on to terminal 01, then terminal 02 when 01 is full etc. Finding files is even easier because the first part of the file number you look at is the terminal digit. If a file number ends in 89 it will be in terminal 89 in file number order.
Do you need to change file numbering system?
Importantly, you don’t need to change your current file numbering system other than by adding on additional numbers to the end. These additional numbers are the terminal digits. The number of terminal digits you need depends upon how many file folders you have to manage. Here is a simple guideline:
Why Use Terminal-Digit Filing?
Advocates for the terminal-digit storage method say it has several advantages.
What is terminal digit storage?
The terminal-digit storage method uses the last number in a sequence as the basis for ordering your files. Using terminal-digit filing makes it possible to distribute files evenly throughout your system
How many terminal digits are needed for a file?
If you have large numbers of files — more than 1,000, say — you may find it more efficient to organize them by two terminal digits: 00, then 01, then 02 and so on. For more than 10,000 files, you may need three digits.
How many sections can a terminal file have?
Terminal-digit filing allows you to divide your file storage into 10 equal sections, or 100 for a two-digit system. Once your employees learn the system, they have a rough idea of where to put each file or where to look for it.
Is terminal digit filing cumbersome?
If individual files have a lot of subfiles or folders, terminal-digit filing can become rather cumbersome. It's also less useful if you have a small number of extremely large files, as can happen at some law firms. References. Society of American Archivists: Terminal Digit Filing.

Managing Productivity Problems in Alphabetical and Straight Numeric File Systems
Problems with Alphabetical Filing Systems
- Difficulty in managing where file growth will occur in your filing system resulting in periodic reorganizing and shifting of files to make room for file growth.
- Misfiled information due to confusion in how to file certain names
Problems with Straight Numeric Filing Systems
- Straight numeric filing systems identify each patient with a unique number, eliminating any confusion about which file or patient chart you are looking with an alphabetical filing system. The main problem with a straight numeric filing system is distribution the workload evenly and equally among your staff and reorganizing and shifting files after purging records. Also, with any numeri…
Benefits of Terminal Digit Filing and End Digit Filing
- Terminal digit filing, or end digit filing, makes more sense for managing large quantities of records. Terminal digit and end digit filing allows files to expand at a controlled rate, eliminating the need to shift files after purging older records. Depending on how you set up your terminal digit filing system, the last two, three, or four digits of...